EBBA's long term expansionist policy of competitive integration has undergone many format changes ever since the first B Section contest was held in 1994.

This year's elite level Championship event contained five bands that had progressed through its various incarnations over the ensuing years. Each deserved their promotion, although whether it also triggered substantive grass roots expansionism in their home countries is open to debate.

Aims

Now the Challenge Section aims to promote the "values of the brass band movement", "improve the repertoire", "develop the standards of competition performance" and "inspire non-EBBA member countries".

This year four bands from Italy, Spain, Northern Ireland and Lithuania took to the stage at Malmo-Live on Saturday morning to certainly provide a series of well-matched level competitive performances.

Each nation is at different stage of its cyclical development. Northern Ireland has in past competed in the Championship Section (back to the first contest in 1978), but now seems settled at the secondary level, whilst Spain's embryonic domestic movement currently remains a singular rather pluralistic one.

Greatest hope

Lithuania offers perhaps the greatest hope of lasting long-term development along the lines of Norway and Switzerland. Not only is there great pride in the achievement of sending representatives (one in this event and two in the Youth Championships), but there is also financial backing and a structured organisation.

The Italians meanwhile battle against bureaucracy and a defined sense of regionalism that at present stifles the amazing efforts of their individual bands. The last Italian National Championships were held in 2019, and whilst it is hoped they will be resurrected soon, funding remains a problem.

That was seen by the unfortunate withdrawal from the youth championships of what would have overall been a fourth representative band (the promise of local government funding was stopped just weeks before they were due to leave).

Lito Fontana, a man who has done so much to inspire the Italian brass band movement, was almost in tears when he told the story of how N.P.B.B. Brass Band of the Conservatoire 'N. Piccinni' of Bari Mo had worked so hard to prepare for the event, only to have their financial promise of help taken away from them. The youngsters he said were heartbroken.

Fine fashion winner

What then does the future hold for Brass Band Uberetsch who claimed the title in fine fashion under MD Johan Finatzer?

On this evidence, very good indeed.

Their delight in stepping up a podium step from their runner-up finish in Birmingham last year was obvious, their representative punching the air with passionate joy as their name was read out as the new 2023 Challenge Section Champion.

Based in the southern part of the South Tyrol, it is a predominately German speaking area with strong brass playing tradition.

The quality of the performers, many of whom are music teachers or performers was evident in their finely portrayed accounts of the set-work, 'Tragic Overture' by Tobias Brostrom and their own-choice of 'Excalibur' by Jan van der Roost.

Their inherent appreciation of dynamic balance, layered texturing, pacing and phrasing led by the MD and implemented by some fine lead soloists and strong ensemble seeped through the music.

Authority and confidence

It was playing of authority and confidence — notably in the set-work (which was far from Brahms and tragedy as you could imagine) that had a controlled energy from start to finish. Despite a few moments as lactic acid hit stamina levels as they tackled the ambitious own-choice work, the playing remained compact and darkly dramatic.

Speaking after the announcement of the results, their band representative was still in a state of joyful shock.

"I can't describe it now," he said. "So much work has gone over years to this project to improve as a band. It's a dream come true for us. We managed to put on a great show against great bands to display our music making. We made mistakes, but it is important we made music too — and I'm very proud of our guys and girls. Our youngest player is only 13."

As for the future and the potential for a move up to elite level competition, he added: "We need to improve greatly to be a challenge to them — but for be sure we won't be backing done. We will now celebrate — we are all very thirsty!"

Spanish potential

Supporters willing to explore the potential of Spanish banding will have been heartily encouraged by runner-up Malaga Brass Band (founded in 2015), who displayed a touch of symphonic finesse and toreador bravura throughout.

Led with a delicate authoritative style by MD Victor Eloy Lopez Cerezo they were technically assured, although intonation problems arose at times. The set-work was played with artistic flair and huge ensemble blocks of sound, although their ambitious own-choice work 'Terra Australis' just stretched them to the limit and beyond.

The potential though as a band is huge — and hopefully too for the fledgling banding movement they can inspire.

Fulfilled Hope

Lots of solidity, purposefulness and rich ensemble musicality was also on show from third placed Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band under Keith Anderson — notably on the super own-choice selection of 'Hope Fulfilled' by Kenneth Downie.

Commissioned by the band (and used at the recent NIBA National Championships) using traditional Salvationist source material, it was a mix of tempered technique and lyricism that drew to an immensely satisfying conclusion.

Growing

Just behind came the Lithuanians of Aukstyn with a set that showcased their growing potential.

Although they just struggled to fully overcome all the challenges of the set-work, the clever own-choice selection of Jan Bosveld's 'Match Rhythm' (used as the set-work at this event in 2005) and the outstanding 'Best Soloist' euphonium playing of 'Variations on a theme of Paganini' by 19-year-old Barnabus Buktus (who also performed with their youth band the following day) their playing had a richness of tonality and balance that was marked and welcome.

Italy banding has now provided the winners of the Challenge Section on seven occasions (2007/08/14/15/17/18 and 2023) from four different ensembles. If that individual excellence can be backed by the same level of domestic organisation, Italian banding's future could well take on a new dimension in future years.

Iwan Fox

The quality of the performers, many of whom are music teachers or performers was evident in their finely portrayed accounts of the set-work, 'Tragic Overture' and their own-choice of 'Excalibur'4BR

Results:

Challenge Section:

Adjudicators: Martyn Brabbins, Anne Crookston, Ivan Meylemans
Test Piece: Tragic Overture (Tobias Broström)) and Own Choice

1. Brass Band Uberetsch (Johann Finatzer): 95
2. Malaga Brass Band (Victor Eloy Lopez Cerezo): 92
3. Laganvale Metal Technology Band (Keith Anderson) :90
4. Aukstyn LT (Piet Visser): 89

Best Instrumentalist: Solo euphonium Brassband Uberetsch